Born of Need

Book excerpt: Modern churchgoers often find the reality of original sin inconvenient. Of course, people acknowledge remorse and personal guilt as a present reality, but these feelings are hurriedly suppressed. Most people assume that they are basically good and innately innocent, but the Bible, history, and society’s current situation demonstrate otherwise, and the church needs to hear preaching that includes the biblical diagnosis. Conviction of sin can hurt deeply and collides with prevailing norms, but it is meant to drive sinners to the only remedy available—Jesus. This book is an invitation to revisit the doctrines of sin and salvation as they impact daily life. It is an unvarnished look at the Bible and a period in history when preaching fostered a sense of need in the general population, resulting in awakenings and large revivals. Today, serious Christians are invited to pause and take a long look at the state of the church and their own hearts.